RCMP CRACK DOWN ON LOCAL DRUG GROW OPERATIONS

RCMP will experience a new high this year. Mountain View County RCMP
have been charging more and more people with drug related offences
each year.

But this high is nothing but a downer for RCMP and anti-drug
supporters.

The increase can be attributed to many different factors, none of
which can be pinpointed as the exact cause. Whether it is an increase
in the number of drugs in the Mountain View area, or to a crack-down
by RCMP, the number of drug-related charges are going up.

"This year, so far, we are heading to a record number again," said Bob
Phillips of the Olds RCMP division.

The RCMP, including Sundre, Olds and Didsbury, have laid a total of
124 charges for 2002. That is up 33 per cent from 2001. RCMP have
already laid 49 drug-related charges for the first quarter, January to
April, of 2003.

"There's a few things that attribute to that. In my opinion, one
reason certainly is the acceptance from society in general of the use
of marijuana," said Const. Chris Reister of the Didsbury RCMP.

'Drugs are everywhere. The more society accepts it, the more people
are going to do it."

With the decriminalization of marijuana just around the corner, the
drug problem won't get be getting any better, Reister said. "In my
view, it's (decriminalization) a very poor move, not a very
responsible move," he said. "Simply because we have no roadside
screening and no way to determine if someone is driving under the
influence of marijuana, other than taking blood, which is very difficult."

The bill to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana had its first
reading in parliament last week, and is working its way through the
legislative process.

'In my opinion, the argument always comes up that alcohol is legal and
it is an evil drug, however, it doesn't mean we should legalize
marijuana or decriminalize it. Just because we've got one bad thing
out there doesn't mean we should have two,' Reister said.

While not wearing your seatbelt will get you a fine of $150, and a
minor, under the age of 18, who is caught smoking a cigarette will get
a fine of $100, under the new deregulation a minor would receive a
$150 fine for possession of marijuana under 30 grams.

While police have cracked down on drug investigations, Reister says
drugs are "a very lucrative, profitable business, which also makes it
attractive."

He also said many of the grow operations that are coming into small
towns in this area, have ties to larger operations in the bigger
cities and often to organized crime.

Police have also found a direct relation with drug increases to
property offences.

'Some cocaine addiction can cost approximately $125 per day and most
people can't pay for it, so they have to find other means of paying
for their habits," Reister said.

Even though many of Reister's drug investigations have involved adults
as the accused, he said responsible, knowledgable parents will play a
key role in helping to douse the increase in drug offences.